The wind as an energy source (non-statutory)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can investigate how we use wind to move things and can describe how wind turbines generate electricity.
Key learning points
- Moving air (wind) can turn the blades of windmills or turbines.
- Windmills have been used for many years to help us do work like pumping water or grinding wheat for flour.
- Wind turbines are now used to generate electricity.
- The wind is a renewable energy source as there will always be wind.
Keywords
Wind turbine - A wind turbine is a device that is turned by the wind to generate electricity.
Energy source - Energy sources can be used to provide heat, light, or power.
Pump - A water pump is a piece of equipment that is used to move water from one place to another.
Generate - To generate electricity is to produce or make it.
Electricity - Electricity is needed for lighting, heating and making machines and appliances work.
Common misconception
Children may think that windmills and wind turbines create wind when the sails or blades spin.
Teaching slide explain that windmills and wind turbines harness the energy of the wind to do work for us or to generate electricity.
Teacher tip
Make sure children understand that we cannot see wind itself but we can see the effect of wind in many places.
Equipment
Equipment for making a wind turbine: thick paper, recycled plastic bottle, wooden rod, sticky tack, thread, sticky tape
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Sun is ___________ of energy.
Q2.Which of these is an energy source that can be used to generate electricity?
Q3.Match the type of resource to the description.
Q4.Which of these is a renewable source of energy?
Q5.Coal, oil and natural gas are fuels.
Q6.What is our carbon footprint?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the name given to moving air?
Q2.Why do windmills and wind turbines have the word “wind” in their names?
Q3.Which of these are uses of windmills?
Q4.What are wind turbines used to generate?
Q5.Match the type of energy source to the example.
Q6.Why is wind energy considered to be renewable?
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: The wind as an energy source (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: The wind as an energy source (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
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